“It is extraordinary” Ex-enemy Yannick Noah expresses his admiration for Rafael Nadal’s performance levels


“It is extraordinary” Ex-enemy Yannick Noah expresses his admiration for Rafael Nadal’s performance levels

Yannick Noah and Rafael Nadal

21-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal had his record-breaking win at the 2022 Australian Open when he won the title against the World No.2 Daniil Medvedev. The Spanish player has become an inspiration to many all over the world throughout his illustrious career. 

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The 34-year-old has had an illustrious career, having won a record number of majors along with his innumerable ATP titles. Alongside his achievements and swagger on the pitch, the fighting spirit exhibited by the Spaniard to comeback from serious injury problems has made him an icon of the game.

Noah expresses his immense admiration for Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal

In a recent interview, French legend Yannick Noah expressed his admiration for Rafael Nadal. Their relationship has been evolving over the years, with their relationship having been sour for years after the Frenchman wrote a controversial article about the Spaniard back in 2011.

In the article concerned, Noah had accused the former World No.1 of doping. The pair have since patched up their relationship, with Noah now being in awe of the Spaniard, who has shown incredible determination to comeback from a potential career ending injuries.

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In the interview, Noah said that he was amazed by his performance levels, which is not that of a man who is 35 years old. The Former French Open winner was left in awe of the record French Open winner in the way he dominates his opponent even when they are much younger than him.

“I don’t know, 35, so obviously that captures the imagination. It is extraordinary. At his age, I could no longer walk. He physically dominates the guys, I find that extraordinary,”– said Noah on the Super Moscato show.

He then went on to speak about the Australian Open 2022 final, admitting that he was left stunned by the comeback by the Spaniard against Daniil Medvedev. He even went on to reveal that he was left wondering if it was in real life or on play station.

“The level of play at the end of the final. . . I wondered if it was not PlayStation. It was amazing,” said Noah.

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The Frenchman then went on to express his annoyances on the discussions being only being restricted to the Big 3 and feels that even Bjorn Borg should be spoken about in the same breath. He remains undecided on who the GOAT is, with some people preferring Nadal’s longevity and some preferring Federer’s aesthetic style.

“The GOAT? Djokovic is on stand-by so we have to see. Whether there is one who has won 21 or 20 is completely abstract, but what I find wonderful are the matches they deliver. Federer, I don’t know if he will come back, it will be difficult for him, but Djokovic is still in the race. But after knowing who the GOAT is, I don’t care. Some will highlight the aesthetic side of Federer, others the courage of Nadal. There is also Borg who stopped at 26 and who had won I don’t know how many.” Noah added.

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